#MeToo Rings Loud: Seven Musicians From Madras Music Academy Dropped From Marghazi Season

The Madras Music Academy, one of the most prestigious institutions of Carnatic music, has decided to exclude seven persons from the list of performers in coming Marghazi season, based on allegations of sexual assault against them, reports The New Indian Express.

The president of the Academy, N Murali stated that the decision was to reiterate Academy’s zero tolerance policy towards sexual harassment and to show solidarity with the #MeToo survivors.

Murali said as quoted by TNIE, “No distinction was made either on seniority or prominence of those who have been accused of sexual harassment. They were all treated under the same yardstick. We had already finalised the list of performers for the Marghazi season in April. But after we came to know about the development, we immediately wanted to act on the issue and alter the list.”

The seven performers who were ousted from the season in December, N Ravikiran, OS Thyagarajan, Mannargudi A Easwaran, Srimushnam V Raja Rao, Nagai Sriram, R Ramesh and Thiruvarur Vaidyanathan were regular performers at the Academy.

When asked if the seven artists would be allowed to perform in the academy after the December event, Murali said that this would be decided after further discussion once the season ended.